I completely agree that the Dame/CJ duo should be broken up. I just think this is a horrible way to do it. The Magic aren't super high on Gordon, why not try and get him for cheaper and move CJ in a different deal? If not, it's not worth it. Once again you can't tell me anything that Gordon is actually good at except that you hope he improves on a better team. It's certainly possible but I think Dame is already too PnR dependent and to add another player who needs to either play PnR (with Dame who rarely throws lobs) or in a fast break system (that isn't happening with Stotts) is just adding to our issues, not making things different for the better.
Honestly could we get better than a Gordon/Ross package with CJ being the only significant peice leaving? If so do it immediately. I don’t think it’s the worst return ever but I’d rather send CJ to Boston
I like this trade. Gordon could make a step up after leaving Orlando like Oladipo and Harris have I think. I don't buy the idea we could get incredible value back for CJ anyway.
Gordon has a descending deal which makes it interesting. He's making $21.6million this year but $19.8million next year, $18.1million in 2020-21 and $16.4million in 2021-22.
That is an interesting contract. I'm all for getting something better for CJ, but what would that be? If as mentioned, it was Boston, who do we get?
"CJ needs to be traded, he's so inefficient" Olshey trades CJ for Gordon. "Great trade!" (Ignoring that Gordon is less efficient)
I think that's oversimplifying this. CJ is a lead guard who is not being maximized here because he plays with Dame. Orlando has a massive void for a guy with his skills. Gordon is a forward who is not being maximized there because of the glut of players in his position and the million different coaches he's had (along with the general stupidity and ineptitude that is Orlando). We too have a massive void for a player like him. It makes more sense than you think. yes, the good kind. Not the Tyrus Thomas kind. Tweeners are all the rage in the current NBA.
No it doesn't. Gordon is an elite athlete, but he's not an elite basketball player. CJ is an elite basketball player.
I would submit CJ is a very good offensive player but not elite. He's not shooting nearly well enough from '3' for his position to be elite and he doesn't get to the foul line much either. Then throw in his defense (or lack thereof) and "elite" starts to get farther away. Tremendous offensive player and even better when he is 'the man', but that won't happen here in Portland so we end up with version B of him here.
Or it's just as likely that Gordon just isn't that good and that people are making excuses for him not putting in the work to be better. The coaches are the reason he doesn't shoot well? The front office is to blame for his below average rebounding percentage despite having probably top-10 NBA athleticism and leaping ability?
If CJ is going to be really good with his own team, why are we the ones having to pay Orlando a pick to add a bad contract?
I don't see anyone advocating the Blazers sending a pick other than the author advocating getting CJ to Orlando. CJ is the best offensive player of the group so no sending a pick. The CJ/Harkless for Gordon/Ross I do find intriguing enough to at least consider. Starting with, the Dame/CJ (regardless of how good they can be individually) have amounted to zero/zip/nada in terms of even a single Playoff victory in the last 2 seasons.
CJ/Hark for Gordon/Ross So much going on with this trade. 1) Olshey adding a first kills this deal. 2) What is the plan for Aminu? If we re-sign him, how much will he cost? If we let him go, is Gordon an upgrade? By how much? 3) This trade will help our luxury tax issue 4) Gordon is not elite, but he is versatile, on both ends of the floor. More versatile than CJ. 5) Gordon is not the guy, and did not play well in that role. But we have Dame for that role. While the talent level may be close, this trade may balance our roster. Think building a roster more like the Bucks than trying to build a Warriors roster.
If you had 5 good offensive players on one team, you would most likely end up with version B for all of them. and I would have no problem with that. In my mind the only time redundancy is an issue is when one player is regulated to the bench because there is not enough time for him. Not the case here. I am all for improving the team and if trading CJ is the way to do it.... fine. But this theory about how he and Dame are redundant is ridiculous. They don't play the same position! CJ's D is not the reason we struggle at times. True there is only one ball but we are not even close to that being a problem for the Blazers. They need more scorers not less. I would take Gordon on this team, but not for CJ.
I don't think Gordon solves our issues, I don't believe he is worth his contract, but I also don't believe we can get anything better than that for CJ.
